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Herries Open Evening
(12 May 2012)
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EXCELLENT
PASTORAL CARE, EXAMS RESULTS AND SMALL CLASS SIZES – JUST THREE OF THE
REASONS WHY PARENTS CHOOSE HERRIES
On Wednesday, 9th May 2012, Herries Preparatory
School in Cookham Dean held an Open Evening for prospective parents. As
locals will be well aware, the school has a rich cultural heritage and is
the former home of Kenneth Grahame, the author of “Wind in the
Willows”.
Head teacher, Sophie Green gave a short speech in
which she highlighted some of the school’s special qualities, one of
which is its high level of pastoral care. Ms Green referred to the most
recent ISI report which said: “The caring, happy and supportive
community and the excellent relationship forged between pupils and staff
enable pupils to develop as confident citizens.”
Ms Green went on to talk about the benefits of this
high level of pastoral care: “Firstly, the happiness of pupils is
something to be treasured in itself, and secondly, we believe that a happy
pupil is a pupil who learns without distraction.”
With the school’s excellent academic standards,
when pupils leave at the end of Year 6, they have higher than average NC
levels. Pupils have a class teacher up to and including Year 2, but
increasingly from Year 3, they are taught by specialist teachers, and this
is good preparation for their chosen senior schools.
Ms Green also spoke about the small class sizes and
the fact that the school felt like a big family: “Every pupil matters
and is an important and special part of the school.”
She went on to give a snapshot of the sport, music
and drama at Herries. “We
foster a real love of sport in all our pupils and every child, from
Reception to Year 6, takes part in a timetabled sporting activity three
times a week. Increasingly, pupils also have the opportunity to take part
in competitive fixtures against other schools in team sports such as
netball and football. They learn to win with pride and lost with grace.”
Herries has just head that all of the students who
recently took their LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) exams
passed with either a “merit” or a “distinction”. Ms Green
attributed this success both to the pupils and to Mrs Castell, the head of
Music and Drama at Herries.
“This
is the embodiment of the self-confidence that Herries gives its pupils –
Mrs Castell takes them on a very exciting journey during their time here.
Along the way they will take part in the Marlow
Schools Choir Festival, a summer production of Annie,
celebrations of Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter at St John the
Baptist church and much, much more.”
Finally Ms Green said: “All of our pupils are able
to stay with us from 8am-6pm and many of them do. Their days are full and
varied and made up of much more than lessons and lunch. I took time to
walk around the school today to ask the children what they especially
enjoyed during their time here and there were some very touching
answers.”
Some of the comments from pupils at Herries:
Keira–“I like
getting lots of house points”.
Holly – “I like
the curry”.
Sam- “I like Golden
Time”.
Luka- “I like
playing outside with John”.
Wyn- “I like Herries
because everyone is kind”.
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